Category Archives: US-Mex relations

Posted onMarch 1, 2017|Comments Off on Videgaray outlines Mexico’s negotiating posture with U.S.

Foreign Minister Videgaray testimony in the Senate 2/28 included several red lines and must-haves.

U.S. immigration law and enforcement

A strictly U.S. domestic issue, and Mexico will not get involved in an internal U.S. debate, BUT:

Mexico will not accept any non-Mexican deportees.

Mexico will protect the human rights of Mexicans in the U.S., and pursue any violations in international forums

There needs to be continued cooperation and coordination on border security matters; threats and insults need to cease

No militarization of the border

Mexicans leaving the U.S. (both voluntarily and involuntarily) must keep their rights to Social Security earned

U.S. and Mexico need to cooperate on Central America

NAFTA

We will not negotiate the Free Trade Agreement from the defendant’s dock. Any negotiation between the parties must start from the premise that this has been an agreement that has generated important benefits for all three parties.

Mexico will undertake the trade negotiations, “without pause, but without haste”

No tariffs or quotas.

Negotiation should include mechanisms to support rising wages for Mexican workers, so the “production model” isn’t based on cheap labor.

The Wall

Construction of the wall is a hostile act, and Mexico will not collaborate in any way; but it is a sovereign matter for the U.S.

Mexico will pursue any violation of international law in international forums.

U.S. Tax regime

Mexico must be prepared to change its own tax regime if changes to US tax law affect Mexican interests or the economic competitiveness.

Drug trafficking / cartels

U.S. must assume its responsibility to reduce demand, and stop the flow of guns and money.

Remittances

No measures that restrict the flow of remittances or increase their cost.

Posted onMarch 1, 2017|Comments Off on Videgaray testifies in Senate on priorities vis-à-vis U.S.

Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray appeared before the full Senate to present outline the government’s posture on the negotiations with the U.S. across the full range of issues. He and the Senate agreed that they would prepare a document “to regulate and delimit” the negotiations, to be signed by both the administration and the Senate. The Senate leadership said they would have a draft to discuss when Videgaray returns on 3/7.

The principal points Videgaray made are here.

The major question is whether Mexico is willing to negotiate trade issues on a stand-alone basis, or will insist on an all-or-nothing “integral” negotiation, where trade, migration, the border, cooperation on security, and drug trafficking are all on the table. The former offers the prospect of a revised NAFTA in less than a year. The latter would ensure that nothing gets resolved before both countries move into full election mode in 2018.

The Mexican government is operating on the assumption that NAFTA negotiations will begin in June, although the Trump administration has not yet given the required 90-day notice to Congress.

Posted onFebruary 23, 2017|Comments Off on Videgaray terms meetings with Tillerson and Kelly as “frank” but “steps in the right direction”

Foreign Secretary Videgaray termed the meetings held by him and Government Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong with U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson and Homeland Security Secretary Kelly as “frank.”

This visit occurs a complex moment in the relationship of the two countries. Among Mexicans, there is a preoccupation and irritation with what they perceive as policies of the U.S. that could be damaging to them.

Today we discussed different issues on the agenda, knowing that this is a process that will be long and not necessarily easy. Today we took important steps in the right direction. Undoubtedly, we have some coincidences. The first of these is the need to keep working and having dialogue in an uninterrupted manner.

Posted onFebruary 9, 2017|Comments Off on What the U.S. says vs what Mexico hears

Even when President Trump and senior U.S. officials go out of their way to say positive things about cooperation with Mexico, their manner of expression reinforces negative interpretations of their intentions. Two current examples from Trump’s interview before the Super Bowl and Secretary Kelly’s testimony in Congress together with Mexican columnist reactions:

What the U.S. says:

Trump: We have to do something about the cartels. I did talk to [Peña Nieto] about it. I want to help him with it. … He seemed very willing to get help from us because he has got a problem, and it’s a real problem for us. … We get along very well. But they have problems controlling aspects of their country.

Kelly: If the drugs are in the United States, we’ve lost. … I think a huge partner here is Mexico. If we can help them get after the poppy production, … if we can help them get after the production labs, if we can help them get after the heroin, the methamphetamine … before it gets to the border.

What Mexican commentators hear:

Alejandro Hope: The “aid” that Trump is supposedly offering isn’t aid: it is war. … There isn’t … a recognition of the co-responsibility of the two countries with the problem of transnational organized crime. … Trump’s offer is … bullets for the narcos in Mexico – period. If this is aid, I prefer open threats.

Salvador García Soto: What Trump suggested and Kelly confirmed is to take the Merida Initiative to the next level and relaunch it as a new “Plan Mexico,” similar to “Plan Colombia.” … a military assistance plan … which the Americans would coordinate and execute–with the Mexican army and police as “allies” and subordinates.

Raymundo Riva Palacio: This plan would signify the end of the ability of Los Pinos [the Mexican White House] to take independent and autonomous decisions, through a monumental qualitative change in the bilateral cooperation over the past 10 years: the fight against drugs would depend strategically and tactically on the United States.

It would be the ultimate historical irony if, by destabilising Mexico, the US created incentives for renewed illegal immigration, increased Mexico’s trade surplus with the US due to currency depreciation and encouraged the resurgence of a populist regime antagonistic to its own national interests.

Like this:

Posted onJanuary 25, 2017|Comments Off on EPN reacts angrily to Trump’s executive orders on immigration and the wall

A visibly angry President Peña Nieto gave a very short TV address tonight, after Trump’s signing of executive orders and an ABC News interview calling again for Mexico to pay for the border wall. A translation of EPN’s address:

Today, the President of the United States signed two executive orders related to our country: one to implement immigration measures and another to extend the wall at the border.

In response, I have ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen measures to protect our compatriots.

The 50 Mexican Consulates in the United States will become authentic advocates for the rights of migrants.

Our communities are not alone. The Mexican Government will provide them with the legal advice that guarantees the protection they need.

I call on legislators and civil society organizations to join efforts to back and support them.

Where there is a Mexican migrant at risk who needs our support, there we must be, there our country must be.

I regret and reject the decision of the United States to continue building a wall that, for years, far from uniting us, divides us.

Mexico does not believe in walls.

I have said it over and over again: Mexico will not pay for any wall.

These executive orders also occur at a time when our country is initiating talks to negotiate the new rules of cooperation, trade, investment, security and migration in the North American region.

This negotiation is very important for the strength, certainty and future of our economy and our society.

As President of the Republic, I fully assume the responsibility of defending and protecting the interests of Mexico and Mexicans.

It is my duty to face the problems and face the challenges.

Based on the final report of the Mexican officials currently in Washington, and after consultation with the leadership of the Senate and the National Conference of Governors, I will have to make decisions on the next steps.

Mexico offers and demands respect, as the fully sovereign Nation that we are.

Mexico endorses its friendship with the people of the United States and its willingness to reach agreements with its government — agreements in favor of Mexico and Mexicans.